These few words truly encapsulate my impression of the Smithsonian’s recently opened National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC). Having gone centuries without any centralized effort to accurately recount the African-American experience from slavery to modern day, the United States government finally took a vital step toward giving permanence to this important part of United States history by creating the NMAAHC.

Whether approaching the museum’s dramatic exterior, walking through its incredibly well-designed corridors, or viewing the plethora of museum exhibits which accurately told the brutal yet uplifting story of African-Americans in the United States, I found the entire experience awe-inspiring. More photos from our visit to the museum can be viewed here.

If you are ever in Washington, D.C., you must go. Entry to the entire museum (which could easily take two days to view in its entirety) is free-of-charge. Information about how to get tickets can be found at the NMAAHC website.